Gromit Finally Speaks as the Voice Behind the Beloved Dog From ‘Wallace & Gromit’ is Revealed

For decades, one of animation’s most expressive and beloved characters has communicated entirely with a raised eyebrow. Gromit, the long-suffering dog in ‘Wallace & Gromit’, has never spoken a word, and fans have long wondered what he would sound like if he did. That question has finally been answered, and the answer is a genuine surprise for longtime fans.

The reveal arrives alongside a very unusual publishing project. Gromit has written an autobiography, and the audiobook edition will give the silent canine his first voice.

Actor Martin Freeman will narrate the audiobook edition of ‘Grand: The Autobiography of Gromit’, giving the beloved dog a voice for the first time. A short teaser video making the rounds online carries the on-screen text “Yes, I’m a dog,” echoing the book’s opening line. Recording took place earlier this month at Penguin Studios.

Nick Park, the creator of the characters, explained the casting by asking who could possibly voice a character that everyone feels they know but nobody has actually heard. He said the more he thought about it, the more Freeman seemed the obvious choice, and he was thrilled and honored when the actor agreed.

Gromit’s voice has been revealed. https://t.co/50MRQiWnC3

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Park has also stressed that Freeman is not doing a Gromit voice as such. Instead, the actor is reading Gromit’s story as the dog himself put it. That distinction suggests a warm, understated performance rather than a comic character voice, which would fit a hero known for his dry reactions.

It is also a fitting approach for a character whose personality has always come through facial expressions rather than words. Park, a four-time Oscar winner, has spent decades building that silent comedy, so protecting it clearly matters to him.

The book, announced by Aardman in June, is credited to Gromit “as told to” Nick Park. It is Gromit’s first book and tells his life story for the first time in his own words. Topics include wearing the Techno Trousers, his feelings about gnomes and what the moon tastes like, and it also includes a new adventure.

In an excerpt from the announcement, Gromit opens with the line, “Yes. I’m a dog. And you’re reading a book written by a dog.” Park, for his part, said the book promises to be “a deep dish of doggy nuggets and wisdom to chew on.”

According to the publisher’s description, the memoir is narrated by Gromit and presented to Park. Gromit describes his inner life and says he knows where the bones are buried. Wallace is supposed to be the subject, but he is busy with an invention, which gives the dog a chance to take center stage at last.

That setup is a neat reversal for a duo in which Wallace usually does the talking and Gromit does the sighing. It also hints at the humor fans can expect from the audiobook, which promises a mix of dry observation and genuine heart.

The audiobook and ebook arrive on Oct. 22, and the audiobook can already be preordered from major retailers. The hardback follows on Nov. 24, and the ebook runs 272 pages. The book is published by Ebury, in partnership with Aardman, and the audiobook is from Penguin Audio.

For fans who prefer to see Park in person, he is also set to appear at ‘An Evening with Nick Park: The Wrong Trousers and Other Stories’, a pre-publication event at Barbican Hall on Wednesday, Oct. 14.

The fact that Gromit has never spoken is central to his appeal. His silence has made him one of the most recognizable characters in animation, and any decision to change that was bound to be significant. By treating the voice as a narration rather than a character reinvention, the team appears to be protecting what makes him special.

Casting an actor as well known as Freeman also guarantees plenty of attention, and Park has been openly delighted by the choice.

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